Don't regret its absence, friend Michael; never forget this axiom: _As long as we are floating in empty space, the only spot where safety is possible is inside the Projectile!_" The words "possible" and "impossible" always grated on Ardan's ears.

If he had been a lexicographer, he would have rigidly excluded them from his dictionary, both as meaningless and useless.

He was preparing an answer for Barbican, when he was cut out by a sudden observation from M'Nicholl.
"See here, friends!" cried the Captain; "this going to the Moon is all very well, but how shall we get back ?" His listeners looked at each other with a surprised and perplexed air.
The question, though a very natural one, now appeared to have presented itself to their consideration absolutely for the first time.
"What do you mean by such a question, Captain ?" asked Barbican in a grave judicial tone.
"Mac, my boy," said Ardan seriously, "don't it strike you as a little out of order to ask how you are to return when you have not got there yet ?" "I don't ask the question with any idea of backing out," observed the Captain quietly; "as a matter of purely scientific inquiry, I repeat my question: how are we to return ?" "I don't know," replied Barbican promptly.
"For my part," said Ardan; "if I had known how to get back, I should have never come at all!" "Well! of all the answers!" said the Captain, lifting his hands and shaking his head.
"The best under the circumstances;" observed Barbican; "and I shall further observe that such a question as yours at present is both useless and uncalled for.

On some future occasion, when we shall consider it advisable to return, the question will be in order, and we shall discuss it with all the attention it deserves.

Though the Columbiad is at Stony Hill, the Projectile will still be in the Moon." "Much we shall gain by that! A bullet without a gun!" "The gun we can make and the powder too!" replied Barbican confidently.
"Metal and sulphur and charcoal and saltpetre are likely enough to be present in sufficient quantities beneath the Moon's surface.